An avid writer for the Evening Telegraph's Poet's Corner has died aged 97 -- and has left her fans one last work.

Margaret McHugh was a readers' favourite and had even been recognised by the International Society of Poets for her writing.

Her final poem, Growing Old, unpublished until today, was read at the Blackburn great-gran's funeral by daughter Mavis Hargreaves.

Mrs Hargreaves said she came across the poem while looking through her mother's possessions in the days after her death.

She said: "A sheet of paper fell to the floor. I felt very touched and moved by it. I thought it was so appropriate I arranged to read it at her funeral."

Mrs McHugh caught the mood of thousands of Rovers fans with her poem about Alan Shearer's controversial £15million move to Newcastle United in 1996, the first year she was published in the Evening Telegraph.

The same year she won our Nature Watch competition with a poem about the red deer.

Then in 2003 she scooped the International Poet of Merit award from the International Society of Poets -- and an invite to Hollywood and Florida.

Mrs Hargreaves, 60, said: "I think she always scribbled things down as they came into her head. It wasn't until Poet's Corner that she started sending them for others to read.

"She said she did it to keep her brain working and she enjoyed writing and seeing her poems published."

Born in 1908, Mrs McHugh met her husband Belford when they were children. She worked in mills as a winder but devoted most of her life to eldest daughter Pat, who was born mentally handicapped.

She lived with Pat until her death in 2004, aged 65.

Mrs Hargreaves said: "She was very kind, very caring. She would do anything to help anyone. I miss her dreadfully.

"She always had sympathy and empathy with people less fortunate."

Mrs McHugh, who lived at Viewfields Residential Home, Oozehead Lane, died on October 3 after a short illness. She leaves a daughter, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

The final poem - Growing Old by Margaret McHugh

How green are the trees

When you know you have to leave them soon.

How colourful are the flowers

Strewn along the ground.

How bright is the sunlight

Shining up above,

Warming the world

As it travels round and around.

Even the rain with its tinkling sound

Will be sadly missed

As it falls upon the ground.

The stars that shine at night

Will be seen no more

As I prepare to leave this world

For some distant shore.

We cannot live forever

That I really know

When you are getting very old

And the time has come for you to go.

I have lived my life

And lived it to the full.

Happy times and sad times

But never, never dull.

My children, whom I cherished

Kept me on the go,

They were so beautiful

And I always loved them so.

Now they are gone --

Gone their different ways

And all I have left are memories

Of those happy days.

I have lived my life

And now the time has come

To count my blessings one by one

As I prepare for the journey home.